Remember that most retreats will have you going to bed around ten or so - it only takes a day or two to really get used to that schedule if you work towards it in the week or so beforehand. In general, one needs less sleep during a retreat. After all, you're not doing much but sitting! I don't think...

Perhaps if the mods would move this post to Classical Theravada the subject of abortion could be discussed exclusively from the classic Dhamma texts. While I understand your desire to get at "what the Buddha taught" here, trying to form an opinion on abortion in today's world based on the suttas is...

The problem is that the Buddha made it quite clear that mindfulness of breathing was not simply samatha but instead a fully capable vehicle for insight. To refer to the breath as "conceptual" or to claim that knowing the character of the breath is somehow not insight or not capable of leading to ins...

One should be especially mindful during these activities so as to make sure that unwholesome aggression does not arise - however, if one accepts the risks and acts to mitigate them, sports like boxing or the martial arts can be fun and productive forms of entertainment and exercise.

A kammic explanation is redundant, because human aggression and cruelty are sufficient to explain such actions. Bad things happen to good people because violence, hatred and greed are common human afflictions. No further "metaphysical" explanation is needed. This is an important point. When a child...

But... What would motivate Buddhist ( monks or laity ) to do all those alleged things? Greed, hatred, and delusion. Reflecting on lay life - yes becoming a peaceful meditating monk who minds his own business is the best. But apparently even that is not safe. I hate to sound like I'm speaking in pla...

I know someone who is getting seriously burned by trying to be nice... I wonder if in this cruel world being "nice" is really that good. You're free to wonder that, but if you come to the conclusion that compassion, gentleness, and nonviolence are not worthwhile qualities for one striving to be fre...

Oh I see. But from the first person point of view, the arahant experiences nothing after death. Correct? No form, feeling, consciousness, perception, or thought arises after the death of one without clinging. All of these things are conditioned, and thus do not exist "in" Nibbana. But it's problema...

The simple point that you don't seem to understand here is that I am merely wondering about what a realistic and skillful response would be to a situation like the one in Burma. And we are saying that there is only one realistic and skillful response - nonviolence, compassion, gentleness, and equan...

Is self-defense prohibited? Killing in self-defense is not, no. Either way, seeking out Muslims and attacking them is not self-defense. If one is sick with bacterial infection, is one allowed to take anti-biotics? What about immune-system? Is good Buddhist forbidden to have one? I will not bring up...

People who are merely putting up with others tend to explode, sooner or later. And they explode because they have greed, hatred, and delusion in their hearts. It is suicidal to be peaceful with someone who would want to convert or kill you if given a chance. It is hard to believe those whose faith ...

What lessons can we take from this? In my humble opinion, it's that meditation can help you a lot, but to do it in apropriate dosages. This is important - you can't just power through trauma by racking up a certain number of hours on the cushion. Brahmaviharas, mindfulness, and samadhi are incredib...

With this topic in mind, which, if any, teachers teach the Anapanasati Sutta in such a way that the vipassana jhanas are attained and not the commentarial jhanas? There is no way to do it any other way; any teacher who teaches Anapanasati will teach sutta Jhanas. Commentarial Jhana is too deep for ...

Perhaps the division between view and practice is a false one. After all, Right View is in itself a practice. It's not just about sitting there with the right opinions and thoughts - it's about training yourself to see things in a way that is in accord with the Dhamma, and it is as much a skill to d...